The research from Kantal found that roast turkey is falling out of favour quickest, with the amount of times it is served decreasing by 12 per cent year-on-year. Over the last year, roast chicken meals were down four per cent and roast lamb and pork dinners decreased by three per cent and two per cent respectively.

But while roast potatoes might be disappearing from our tables, research from the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board revealed that sales of mashed potatoes was up by 20 per cent.

Mike Whittemore, head of beef and lamb trade marketing at the AHDB, told trade magazine The Grocer: “Consumers are crying out for a new approach to the roasting category, but the way many retailers present and market roasting joints does not reflect this.

“Roast sales are declining but the supermarkets need to understand why. We have got to think differently about how to fill that void.”

Experts say families no longer have time for roast dinners Photo: Alamy

He argues that large joints of meat, such as a £25 leg of lamb, are "not fit for purpose" anymore, and recommended more variety of mini-joints that can be cooked in under an hour.

Whittemore added that this could boost the market by up to £63 million a year and help revive the Sunday roast.